Mid-Century Modern Dresser Makeover
A Modern Diy
(originally posted in June 2011)
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In 2010 I felt a shift towards simplification and I began the process of getting rid of my overly collected and decorated shabby chic style. I felt like life was closing in on me and I needed a new perspective. I wasn't sure which way I was headed until I came upon this piece during a day of yard shopping for $20.00 and couldn't pass it up. I really liked the classic, clean, simple lines and oh those legs. This was a massed produced piece from the 60's and it was in okay used condition but not perfect and it was definitely in the budget. I had been looking for something with storage to use as a stylish television/entertainment center.
I really like mid-century modern furniture but I have never liked the orange or yellow varnish/oil finishes from that time period. It definitely dated this dresser. It was gorgeous hard wood with dovetail joinery and the high quality of the wood along with the perfect craftsmanship made this a perfect choice.
Now we need to talk about safety... before beginning any diy project make sure you have all the protective gear necessary for what you are going to do.
I use protection for every project, no matter how small it is and so should you. These are my basics:
- Safety glasses: use for every step.
- Ear Protection
- Chemical safe gloves: use for stripping, staining and sanding.
- Respiration mask: use for stripping, staining, sanding and anything else that has a strong smell or non organic chemicals.
Diy Disclosure: Caution: All DIY projects involve some risk from the tools you use, project materials, your skill level and your surrounding work area. Please always use safety precautions when doing things yourself. Follow all tool manufacturer's operating instructions, practice safety precautions like using proper eye wear, ear and inhalation protection, etc. CHIC HOME | Sandra Shepard will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or the use of the item you create.
These are my six basic steps that I use on my wood furniture. If you stick to the basics it gets the job done. It isn't always easy but I know you can do it!
Step #1 Cleaning
I washed the entire dresser with 50/50 solution of Simple Green and let it dry thoroughly. It was coated in nicotine, one of the perks of buying vintage furniture and old houses. It also had some staining on the top and I couldn't tell what it was so after it had dried I did a little test sanding of the finish on the back corner of top. This piece was finished in a matchbook veneer which means the grain matches all across the front if you get the drawers in the right order.
Good news: it could be sanded.
Bad news: it definitely needed to be stripped first because of the veneer I couldn't be overly aggressive with the sanding and I noticed some dark spots on the top which turned out to be oily stains that had penetrated down into the wood.
Step #2 Sanding
I started out sanding using 80 grit sanding blocks and my little buddies the orbital sander and the mouse sander. When you are working with veneer go easy, veneer is a thin decorative wood that is applied to the outer surfaces and you don't want to go through the veneer while sanding.
I did a second sanding with 120 grit. Always sand in the direction of the grain and be sure you use sanders with the dust collector and always wear masks and protective eye wear. I like hand sanding better because there is more control and less chance of making a mistake but I also have learned to love my orbital sander. Clean off sanded piece before next step, I use by air hose to blow it off and then I use a tack cloth which you can find at most hardware stores.
note: I make sure I get double protection by purchasing sanders with a good dust trap/filter and I do wear a high quality disposable respirator mask when hand sanding.
Step #3 Staining
I usually have my favorite stain in mind for a piece before I start the project, but when I first started refinishing furniture I picked up smalls of all the stains I liked and tested them on different types of wood so I had stain boards that I keep adding to with the maker, color and number next to each one for future reference.
Before beginning I usually take a little stain and find a tiny spot on the top edge in the back for testing just to be safe. Be sure to follow directions on the can of the product you use. You can use a brush to apply stain or I save old t-shirts and use them to apply the stain.
If you aren't into stain you could always paint or do a wash of half latex or acrylic paint in your chose of color and half water that allows the grain to show through. Do your finish sanding and a test area before you paint. If you want more coverage use less water.
I did a light sanding of all stained areas with 220 grit sandpaper to close up the grain.
To seal and protect there are different types of finishes you can use; oils, waxes, polyurethane. My personal preference for my own pieces is a paste wax. I like the hand rubbed finish and I grew up learning how to care of and maintain waxed wood furnishings. But it does require up keep and stains when wet. If you want one to seal and protect that can handle everyday life with kids and pets you should probably choose a polyurethane.
I cleaned up and put the original drawer pulls back on and brought it in but they just didn't do anything for me except detract from the beauty of the wood. I took a trip to the local hardware store looking for something in a bronze finish that would blend into the wood but everything was so chunky. I finally settled on some sleek, thin modern looking pulls in a black finish for the outside drawers and matching knobs for the center drawers. They blend in so perfectly that when you are looking at it you don't even notice them unless you are up close.
Step #4 Finish Sanding
I did a light sanding of all stained areas with 220 grit sandpaper to close up the grain.
Step #5 Wax on Wax off
To seal and protect there are different types of finishes you can use; oils, waxes, polyurethane. My personal preference for my own pieces is a paste wax. I like the hand rubbed finish and I grew up learning how to care of and maintain waxed wood furnishings. But it does require up keep and stains when wet. If you want one to seal and protect that can handle everyday life with kids and pets you should probably choose a polyurethane.
Step #6 Hardware
I cleaned up and put the original drawer pulls back on and brought it in but they just didn't do anything for me except detract from the beauty of the wood. I took a trip to the local hardware store looking for something in a bronze finish that would blend into the wood but everything was so chunky. I finally settled on some sleek, thin modern looking pulls in a black finish for the outside drawers and matching knobs for the center drawers. They blend in so perfectly that when you are looking at it you don't even notice them unless you are up close.
